North Andover, Mass. – The Le Moyne College softball team competed in a doubleheader against Merrimack College to close out their end of the week series. The Dolphins took the first game 5-3 for their second conference win, and Merrimack won the second game 6-2.

"Every inning of this three game series was a hard fought battle by both teams" said head coach Tracey Roman. "To get out of there with two wins is a big milestone for our program.  We came from behind in both wins which demonstrates tremendous mental resilience. Even though we came up short in the last game, we threatened until the very last out, loading the bases in the seventh inning. There is no quit in this team and for that reason alone, I'm very satisfied with the way we're competing. We've had a grueling travel schedule over the last five weeks and we're really looking forward to coming home to the heights." 
 
First Game:
 
The Warriors came out strong in the first inning with a single from Ellen Hubbard. Courtney Lanpher followed by reaching on a fielder's choice, but as a result Hubbard got out at second. Madison Cerpa then homered to center field bringing home Lanpher (0-2).
 
The score stayed the same until the the top of the fourth where sophomore designated player Audrey Benderski (Spring Lake Park, Minn. / Spring Lake Park) singled to center field. Sophomore right fielder Emilee Gallagher (New Windsor, N.Y. / Newburgh Free Academy) entered the game to pinch run for Benderski at first. Redshirt junior Frankie Larobardiere (North Syracuse, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse/ Onondaga C.C.) then singled off a bunt and Gallagher advanced to second. Freshman outfielder Kara Bacon (Warrensburg, N.Y. / Warrensburg) then entered to pinch run for Larobardiere at first. Freshman pitcher/CI Arianna Exarchakis (Monroe, N.Y. / Monore-Woodbury) singled to center bringing home Gallagher (1-2) and Bacon advanced to third. Freshman UTL Shannon Gavigan (Havertown, Pa. / Haverford) entered to pinch run for Exarchakis at first. While redshirt junior Brooke Nicolaos (Liverpool, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse) was at the plate, Bacon scored off a wild pitch which would end up being the last run of the inning and tying up the game (2-2).
 
At the bottom of the fourth, Gabby Kaduson was hit by a pitch bringing her to first. Sam Russalesi entered to pinch run for Kaduson. Abby Choquette then grounded out and Russalesi advanced to second off a fielder's choice. Caity Lemay then grounded out while Russalesi advanced to third. Russalesi then scored off a single to shortstop from Thiana Brito (2-3).
 
In the top of the sixth, Larobardiere was walked and freshman third baseman Molly Wolf (Horseheads, N.Y. / Horseheads) then came in to pinch run for her at first. Exarchakis was then walked as well while Wolf advanced to second. Junior catcher Elaina Kassap (Long Beach, N.Y. / Long Beach) singled off a bunt which Exarchakis advanced to second and Wolf advanced to third on. Nicolaos was then walked as well which brought home Wolf (3-3) and moved Exarchakis to third, and Kassap to second. Dybacz flied out (SAC) to left field which Exarchakis scored off of (4-3), Nicolaos advanced to second and Kassap advanced to third on. To keep up the momentum, junior second baseman Dominique Rinaldi (Sayville, NY / Sayville) singled to left field bringing home Kassap (5-3) which would be the last run of the game. The final score of the game was Dolphins 5, Warriors 3.
 
Second Game:
 
Merrimack started out strong again by Lanpher hitting a single to center field at the bottom of the first. Cerpa then homered directly after bringing home Lanpher (0-2). In the bottom of the second, Hannah Scarano reached first on an error by centerfield and advanced to second off the error. Hubbard then doubled to center bringing home Scarano (0-3).
 
The Dolphins responded in the top of the fifth with a double from freshman center-fielder Sydney Nesci (Cicero, N.Y. / Cicero-North Syracuse). First baseman Mckenzie Bergdoll (Attleboro, Mass./Attleboro) singled while Nesci advanced to third. Gallagher then entered the game to pinch run for Bergdoll at first. Graduate catcher Brandi Feeney (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse/Saint Peter's) brought home Nesci off a single (1-3) which she then advanced to second, but Gallagher was tagged out at third.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, the Warriors brought home two more runs. S. Samuel started off by hitting a sinlge to center field. Lemay then hit a single to right center which Samuel advanced third on. Brito then entered to pinch run for Lemay and advanced to second during Sofia Palyan's plate appearance. Palyan then singled and advanced to second which brought home Brito and Samuel (5-1). They kept the runs coming in the bottom of the sixth with Lanpher reaching on a fielder's choice. Lanpher then stole second and advanced to third on an error by the catcher. Cerpa singled to center bringing home Lanpher (1-6).
 
In the top of the seventh for the Dolphins, Nesci was walked bringing her to first. Bergdoll then singled to right field while Nesci advanced to second. Kassap then reached first on an error by the third baseman where Bergdoll advanced to second and Nesci advanced to third. Nicolaos brought home Nesci (2-6) by reaching first off a fielder's choice. The final score of the game was Warriors 6, Dolphins 2.
 
The Dolphin's next game will be their home opener on Tuesday, March 26^th at 2:30pm and 4:30pm against Binghamton University.